Sealing arrangement for locomotive power units



Dec. 29, 1942. vM. Essl. 2,306,990

I SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVE POWER UNITS Filed Feb. 12, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 llll///l`llllllllllllllllllllll// Dec. 29, 1942. M ESSL r 2,306,990

SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR LOCOMOTIVE POWER UNITS Filed Feb. 12, 1941 l, 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORNEY named Dee. 29.1942 2,306,990'1 UNITED ASTATES PATENT OFFICE" SEALING ARRAg LOCOMQmE i Max Essl, Lansdowne, Pa., assigner to The Baldwin Locomotive' Works, a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 12, 1941, Serial No. 378,541 11 claims. (ci. 10s- 35) Thisinvention relates `generally to locomotives Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken on the line of the type employing a plurality of removable 2-2 of Figs. l and 3; t power units and more particularly to improved Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line means whereby the hoods for adjacent power y 3-3 of Fig. 1; units may be adequately sealed against outside Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken atmospheric conditions. on the line l4 of Figs. 3 and 5 showing a closed In locomotives of the general type disclosed end of the sealing tube;

herein such as shown in my copending applica- Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line tion Serial No. 258,689, led February 27, 1939, 5--5 of Fig. 4;- and a plurality of power units are provided each in- Figs. 6 to 12 are modied forms of sealing tubes cluding an internal combustion engine and an that may be employed in my inventionelectric generator at one end thereof and rela- In the draWingS of Fig. 1 I have Shown a 10Gotively closely spaced in side by side relation with motive of vthe type having a eab. underfralne -l the power units extending transversely of the Preferably Supported on a Pair 0f articulated locomotive frame. Each of these power units is l5 DoWel trucks diagrammatioally indicated at 2 individually removable together with a hood secand 3 Whose aXleS are driven through usual eleotion usually comprising both side and roof hood trie motorS- An operatorS Cab 4 may be located sections, the hood sections of the successive units at each end of the locomotive While a Space beforining a continuous outside surface when tween said cabs is provided with a series of power placed in contiguous relation to each other, It units generally indicated at 5. These power units is necessary, however; to have the adjacent edges are generally of the type Shown in Iny above of the hood sections sufficiently spaced apart to mentioned eopending application and each Colnallow a unit to be bodily lifted or moved sidewise Prises, es Shown in Fig- 3, an engine 6 havlng a from the locomotive frame and yet it is essengenerator l at one end thereof- The engine gen= tial that this space should be closed to prevent i erator Power units are arranged With the engine rain, snow, wind or other adverse atmospheric crankshaft axes extending transversely of the conditions from entering the interior of the lofrom? and the .Successive unit/ S .are placed in oomotive relatively close side by side relation to each other It is an object of my ,invention to provide thereby forming a longitudinally compact bank improved means whereby the spacing between of units. Each uniit is provided with its own adjacent hood sections may be quickly and effecltiood sseotin smolud ng Surfaoes Smil.; as sldlseo' tively closed or opened thereby facilitating easy lons an and a roof soot on -AS S own in Fig. 2, the adjacent edges Il and I2 of the ggg; os; iegcgesgasptlgtaofmaitgower 3 adjacent power unit hoods are suiilciently spaced A further object is to provide improved means apart so that any power mit together with its' we jacent hood sections without danger of damiig' the adjacent hood sections is preferably sulcient ing adjacent edges of the hoods. Another obiect so as to avoid injury to the hoods through hib is to provide an improved scalable means that 40 ting each other during removal or replacement can be readily accommodated to a curved surface of a unit. Regardless however of the extent of such as a roof section of the hoods' spacing between the hood sections, it is essen- A Stm further object is to provide improved tial that the adjacent edges be adequately closed scalable means that may be effectively supported preferably by a reasonably tight Seal so as to i position adjacent the edges of the hoods in prevent rain, wind, snow or other elements from a' simole and economical manner Whlle Still entering the locomotive. Also, it is desirable maintaining complete freedom of action of the that any Sealing means should be easily' quickly Sealable meansand effectively operated without undue loss of Other objects and advantages will be more time apparent to those skilled in the art from the fol- To accomplish the foregoing and stiu other lowing description of the accompanying 'drawings desirable characteristics I have provided in one in which: specific aspect of the invention, as shown in Fig.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the type of loco- 3, ay pneumatically inflatable seal including a motive in which my improved scalable means pair of tubes I3 and I4 of substantially trianguis employed; lar shape in cross-section and having a bulbous end II. This tube extends preferably, as shown in Fig. 3, from one end It vertically along side I and across top il and along side l terminating at its other end il. 'I'he pair of tubes of adjacent sections are clamped to their respective hoods by clamping strips II and il extending preferably entirely along the full length of the tubes between their ends li and ll and being held in position by a series of bolts, rivets or other suitable holding means 2l. the tubes are closed as shown in Fig. 4 at 2l. An air inlet pipe 22, Fig. 3, is suitably connected into each tube adjacent one end such as Il while a quick detachable coupling 22 connects pipe l22 to an air pressure supply pipe 24 running lengthwise of the locomotive frame to serve each of the tubes. Each branch from pipe 24 may be provided with a three-way valve 2l to admit air to or discharge air from the tubes individually.

When air pressure is admitted to each of the tubes through valve 2S the tubes expand toward each other as shown in Fig. 2 until coming into contact at substantially a middle position, although when the air pressure is released the elastic qualities of the tube which are preferably rubber will cause the same to retract to the dotted line positions 21 thereby providing adequate space between the adjacent sections for complete freedom for removal or replacement of a unit. Any irregularities in the hoods will be compensated for by the flexibility of the adjustable seals while the inclined walls of the clamping strips I8 and the tapered edges 23 of the hoods insure a snug fit of the tubular seals and also the tapered hood surface 28 allows the tubes to more nearly approach the outer surface of the hood walls thereby forming a highly continuous appearance of the surface.

In the Fig. 7 modification a. single tube 29 is secured in an integral holdingstrip 30 into which the bulbous end of the tube may be forced. When the tube 29 is expanded it seats against a semi-circular strip 3| formed on the adjacent hood. This arrangement allows one tube to be used to a power unit. As shown in Fig. 6, the tubular member 32 is normally a circular tube of uniform wall thickness held in position by merely clamping a portion of the tube upon itself as indicated at 33. The tube when expanded seats against an angle bar strip 33 which is preferably inset slightly from the edge of the hood wall.

In Fig. 8 a single removable tube 34 is manually placed between two opposed semi-circular seating strips 35, although if desired the tube may be suitably glued within one of these seating strips. Fig. 9 shows a single tube of uniform wall thickness provided with a wire 36 disposed inside of a tube and held in position by an overhanging interlocking clamping strip 3l secured to the wall of the hood section. This tube may be expanded into overlapping contact with the adjacent roof section without having a seating strip thereon.

In Fig. l a single tube 38 of uniform wall thickness is clamped as at 39 and bears against an inclined seating arrangement 40 preferably of V-form.

As shown in Fig. l1 the tubes employed in Fig. 2 may be provided with reinforcing wires 4I in the face of the tubes so that the wires do not interfere with the expansion of the tubes. Also, the form of tube shown in Fig. 2 serves the double purpose of being scalable whether one or both Both ends of tubes are iniiated. It may happen that one tube. such as 2l, may become punctured and deated whereupon the second tube would be further expanded to maintain contact with tube 42 or with the pocket walls of the tube I2 thereby maintaining the complete sealing action.

From the foregoing disclosure of the several modifications. it is seen that I have provided an extremely simple, eil'ective and readily operable scalable means for adjacent edges of the hood sections regardless of whether these sections are straight as along the vertical sides or whether the sections are curved as across the roof. The tubes when deflated allow adequate space between the adjacent edges oi' the hood walls thereby minimizing the possibility of damage to the hoods during removal or replacement of a unit but at the same time the tubes completely iill this space when the umts are in position.

It will of course be understood that various changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and removably supported on a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of removable power unit hood sections for the respective power units, said hood sections having surfaces with edges adjacent to each other whereby the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, and yieldable means interposed between said adjacent edges to seal the same.

2. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and removably supported on a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections for the respective power units and removable as a unit therewith, said hood sections having surfaces with edges adjacent to each other whereby the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, and means movable in a direction across said adjacent edges to seal the same when the hood sections are in normal position and to unseal the same when a hood section is to be removed.

3. 'Ihe combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and removably supported on a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections for the respective power units and removable as a unit therewith, said hood sections having surfaces with adjacent edges wherebyv the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, and fluid operated means movable in a direction crosswiseof said adjacent edges to seal the same and operable to unseal said adjacent edges when the fluid pressure is released.

4. 'I'he combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and removably supported on a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections for the respective power units and removable as a unit therewith, said hood sections having surfaces with adjacent edges whereb.;y the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, and a pneumatically controlled expansible tubular member interposed between said adjacent edges whereby upon expansion of said member the adjacent edges are sealed and upon contraction the edges are unsealed to allow removal'of a hood section.

5. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and extending transversely of and removably supported upon a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections for the respective power units and removable as a unit therewith, said hood sections having surfaces with adjacent edges whereby the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, one of said edges being. provided with a yieldable sealing member and the other edge having a seat for said sealing member whereby upon engagement of said sealing member and seat the adjacent hood edges are sealed.

6. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposedV in side by side relation to each other and extending transversely of and removably supported upon a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood of hood sections for the respective power units and removable as a unit therewith, said hoods sections having surfaces with adjacent edges whereby the successive hood sections provide a continuous covering surface for all of the power units, and a yieldable sealing member disposed on the inside of one of said hood sections adjacent the edge thereof, and a seat formed on the other hood section adjacent its edge so as to be engaged by said sealing member.

7. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and extending Vtransversely of and removably supported upon a frame mounted upon driving wheels compris- .l

ing, a plurality of hood sections for the respective power unitsand removable as a unit therewith, said hood sections having surfaces with adjacent edges whereby the successive hood sections provide a continous covering surface for all of the l power units, and yieldable sealing means carried on each of said hoods adjacent said edges and operable to engage each other to seal said hoods together. 8. 'I'he combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of removable power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and relation, yieldable sealing members carried on each of said hoods adjacent said edges and operable to engage each other to seal said hoods together, and fluid pressure means for moving at least a portion of one of said members into and out of engagement with the other.

9. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of removable power units vdisposed in side by side relation to each other and extending transversely of a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections respectively for said units, said hood sections having edges adjacent to each other when the power units are placed in said side by side relation, yieldablesealing members carried on each of said hoods adjacent said edges and operable to engage each other to seal said hoods together, and fluid operated means for moving at least a portion of both of said sealing members toward each other.

l0. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of removable power units disposed in side by side relation to each other and extending transversely of a frame mounted upon driving wheels comprising, a plurality of hood sections respectively for said units, said hood sections having edges adjacent to each other when the power` units are placed in said side by side relation, yieldable sealing members carried on each of said hoods adjacent said edges and operable toengage each other to seal said hoods together, and iiuid operated means for moving at least a portion of both of said sealing members toward each other, said sealing members being so arranged that in the event one is not operated the other will move beyond its normal sealing uposition tov maintain a sealing relation with the adjacent hood sections.

1l. The combination in a locomotive of the type having a plurality of removable power units disposed inside by side relation to each other4 edge of one hood section being adjacent to the edge of the next hood section thereby forming a substantially continuous hood surface, and means mounted on one of theadjacent hood sections and having a movable portion for sealing said adjacent edges when said power units are in their normal position and for unsealing said edges when a power unit is to be removed or replaced MAXESSL.

` in the locomotive. 

